Chapter 3 North Carolina Species
Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats • When applying management treatments (fire, mowing, herbicides) to habitats, leave one or more adjacent large patches untreated to serve as refugia. When burning areas with bumble bee nests, consider burning no more than one-third of the land area each year and burning specific areas once every three to six years (Hatfield et al. 2012) . Prescribed Fire • Do not purchase commercial bumble bees for use outside of the native range of the species. Only use commercial bumble bees in greenhouses. Do not use them for open-field crops. (Hatfield et al. 2012). • Consider letting fields remain fallow for two to three years as it may allow goldenrod, tickseed, partridge pea, and milkweed to emerge. These native perennials are beneficial for many SGCN, and, when dormant during winter, they provide cover and winter habitat for many beneficial insects.
• Employ Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to minimize environmental and non- target impacts from pest management.
3.10.7.5 Conservation Programs and Partnerships Conservation programs, incentives, and partnerships should be used to the fullest extent to preserve high-quality resources and protect important natural communities. Protective measures that use existing regulatory frameworks to protect habitats and species should be incorporated where applicable. Land conservation or preservation can serve numerous purposes in the face of anticipated climate change, but above all, it promotes ecosystem resilience. Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats • Support the NC Pollinator Conservation Alliance efforts to identify and implement research opportunities that benefit pollinators. • Coordinate and promote citizen science efforts for pollinator conservation. An example is the Southeast Bumble Bee Atlas project developed in partnership with the Xerces Society. SE Bumble Bee Atlas • Work with the Plant Conservation Program and Natural Heritage Program staff to identify important pollinator habitat, to conduct surveys for rare and declining populations of insects (not just pollinators), and to develop and implement conservation actions to protect the habitat and insect SGCN populations.
2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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